Are you more curious about Park Chan-ho's future…The competition for KIA's next shortstop could not be more intense
Nov 11, 2025
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Park Chan-ho is currently the hottest shortstop in the FA market. Not only the original team KIA, but also KT Wiz and Lotte Giants, who are in desperate need of reinforcement of shortstop, are jumping into the recruitment race, and the ransom seems to be increasing. It is expected to increase the contract period to about six years to increase the total amount to more than 8 billion won.
For now, Kia is focusing on cracking down on Park Chan-ho. This is because there are few shortstop who can hit .300 as he has the physical strength to play more than 140 games in a season as a first or second batter. Assuming that Park Chan-ho is absent right now, it is true that neither offense nor defense can come up with a perfect internal replacement.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho is also considering how to turn Kim Do-young from third baseman to shortstop, but he is worried because he has suffered from a hamstring injury all year.
Coach Lee brought all the players who will be the next shortstop candidates to the Okinawa finishing camp in Japan. Kim Kyu-sung, Park Min, and Jung Hyun-chang are currently receiving intensive training as shortstop. Even in a bright training atmosphere full of energy, tension is fully felt.
All three players are evaluated well enough to take the lead right away. Kim Kyu-sung and Park Min-sung were appointed as the first-tier infield backup this year, and Park Min, in particular, is not behind Park Chan-ho at all when it comes to defense. Chung Hyun-chang is a rookie this year, but he has been called the next shortstop prospect since he was traded from the NC Dinos to KIA in July.
The question marks attached to Kim Kyu-sung, Park Min, and Chung Hyun-chang are the same. It is the physical strength and batting that can play full-time as the main player. Only when he can maintain a batting average in the late 20% range can he trust coach Lee and use him as the main player. No matter how high the shortstop is focused on defense, the hit must be supported in order to become the main player.
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Kim Kyu-sung, the oldest among them, is motivating " (the current situation). I'm the second oldest after Chan-ho, but I also have to fight with young players and compete for the starting lineup. It's motivating, and of course, I'm trying to work harder than young players so that I don't lose anymore. I'm also old now, and a lot of time has passed as a backup. Regardless of whether there is a senior who is good or who is ahead, if there is a player who is better than that player, he or she will be the main player. Everyone does that, so I'm always trying my best to win," he said emphatically.
Park Min said, "(Training in the closing camp) It would be unfair if it doesn't go well"After laughing, the defense feels that he has made a lot of progress himself, but it was a season where he was upset and angry because the hit did not seem to be as good as he thought. I was in a hurry, so I swung at the ball that wasn't my ball, so the ball count continued to be at a disadvantage. If you did a good count fight, even if you were out, you would have understood me and the viewer. It didn't work for me. I have to study a lot of physical struggle, and I will prepare to be more relaxed at bat."
The youngest, Jeong Hyeon-chang, said "It's been a hectic and difficult year. Still, it was good to come to KIA and get many opportunities. I really have to show it, but I don't think it's going to work well because I'm just ahead of my mind. Still, I think I have a little leeway when I go out on defense, and I think I'm getting used to it now because I keep watching fast balls at bat. I try to prepare for a lot of on-base hits, and I don't think I can keep hitting well, so I think it would be good to prepare well so that I don't have to struggle physically and keep trying to get on-base" he revealed his own direction.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
